Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 09/22/09

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DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/22/09

Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)

The Bilateral Relationship
4) Campbell tells Okada the investigation into the secret accord
will not affect relations (Asahi)
5) Gist of interview with Assistant Secretary of State Campbell
(Asahi)
6) The genesis of the difference in interpretations; U.S.
interpreted prior consultation for port calls and passage as
unnecessary (Asahi)
7) Foreign Minister Okada arrives in U.S. (Nikkei)
8) Hatoyama diplomacy starts with meetings with U.S., Russian,
Chinese, and Korean leaders (Yomiuri)
9) Prime Minister leaves for U.S. (Nikkei)
10) Hatoyama plans alternative contribution to Afghanistan by
November (Asahi)
11) U.S. Govt. prepared for discussions; Sticking points include
alternative to refueling mission (Sankei)
12) Okada says no to dispatch of SDF to Afghanistan (Tokyo Shimbun)

13) U.S. asks Japan provide other aid in case it ends refueling
mission (Yomiuri)

Foreign Relations
14) State Minister for Abduction Nakai vows to increase pressure on
North (Sankei)

Defense & Security
15) PM Hatoyama to give speech on 25 PERCENT emission reduction
target at UN (Yomiuri)

Politics
16) Ozawa says he would like to see a bill granting local suffrage
for permanent foreign residents introduced at regular Diet session
(Sankei)

Opinion
17) Sankei-FNN poll: 68.7 PERCENT support Hatoyama cabinet
(Sankei)
18) Women boost support for DPJ (Sankei)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Health ministry to keep 53 social insurance hospitals in place:
Switch from policy to sell them

Mainichi:
Unaccounted protection expenses for low-priced accommodation
facilities worth 250 million yen

Yomiuri & Tokyo Shimbun:
Termination of Yamba Dam project to be put on hold: Land minister
gives priority to gaining understanding from local residents

Nikkei:
JAL's main banks call for separation of good businesses from bad

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ones: Special legislation also sought

Sankei:
Review of US Forces Japan realignment: U.S. government ready for
talks

Akahata:
International petition drive for nuclear-free world: Sends photos of
atomic bombings to world

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Rebuilding of JAL: New administration aiming for last
opportunity
(2) 50th anniversary of Isewan Typhoon: Are people are becoming less
wary of danger of natural disasters?

Mainichi:
(1) Climate change summit: Expectations on U.S. displaying
leadership
(2) Challenges to Hatoyama administration - Provisional gas tax
rate; Come up with comprehensive measures

Yomiuri:
(1) Hatoyama's economic measures: Show path to stable growth

Nikkei:
(1) Proactive participation in creating international accounting
system urged

Sankei:
(1) Prime minister's U.S. visit: Reviewing election pledges to
firmly maintain alliance urged
(2) Relocation of Osaka municipality office: Governor should come up
with convincing explanations

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Order for the Acts of Virtuous Government: Being indiscreet will
worsen situation
(2) Fall in benchmark land values: Adverse effect on economy,
but...

Akahata:
(1) U.S. Forces Japan realignment: Promote campaign under new
conditions

30 Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, September 18 &19

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 19

The 18th
09:01 Attended a ministerial meeting on the supplementary budget at
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). Later attended a
regular ministerial meeting, followed by a meeting with Health,
Labor and Welfare Minister Nagatsuma and Social Insurance Agency
Director General Watanabe.
10:34 Met Italian President Naplitano.
11:15 Met State Minister for Abduction Issue Nakai, with Chief

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Cabinet Secretary Hirano.
11:30 Met Masami Tanabu, secretary general of the parliamentary
group to promote invitation of the 2016 Olympic Games to Japan.
12:29 Instructed the vice ministers of government agencies to
suspend their regular press conferences.
13:13 Attended a Lower House plenary session.
13:25 Attended an unveiling ceremony of the signboards of the
national strategy office and the administrative reform conference
office in the Cabinet Office, with State Minister for National
Strategy Bureau Kan and State Minister for Administrative Reform
Sengoku present.
13:30 Arrived at the Diet Building.
14:00 Attended the opening ceremony of a special committee at the
Upper House.
14:20 Arrived at the Kantei.
15:12 Returned to the Lower House plenary session.
15:21 Arrived at the Kantei.
17:55 Arrived at the Imperial Palace to report to the Emperor in
private. Attended a ceremony to formally appoint the new vice
ministers.
20:29 Met Upper House member Yataro Tsuda at the Kantei. Later,
attended a vice ministerial meeting.
21:36 Issued official appointments to parliamentary officials.
Attended a meeting of parliamentary officials.
22:07 Met Deputy Foreign Minister Otabe and Vice Minister of Finance
for International Affairs Tamaki, followed by Deputy Foreign
Minister Sasae.
Sept. 19
00:02 Arrived at his private residence.

Prime20:29 Minister's schedule, September 19

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)

Remained at his home in Denenchofu in the morning.
13:28 Arrived at a department store in Tamagawa to shopp with his
wife.
14:06 Arrived home.

Prime Minister's schedule, September 20

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 21, 2009

Remained at his private residence in the morning.
12:10 Went shopping at a confectionary in Tamagawa Denenchofu with
his wife. Returned to his private residence.
14:43 Arrived at the Kantei.
15:31 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano, Foreign Minister Okada,
Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka and others.
17:32 Met Environment Minister Ozawa.
18:07 Attended a ministerial meeting on global warming.
19:44 Dined at a sushi bar at Jingumae with his wife, Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, and his wife.
22:40 Arrived at his private residence.

Prime Minister's schedule, September 21

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 22, 2009

10:07 Met Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae and others, with Hirano and

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Matsuno.
12:14 Met former professional baseball player Masumi Kuwata, with
his wife Miyuki.
14:34 Met Finance Minister Fujii, METI Minister Naoshima, and
Financial Affairs Minister Kamei. Joined by Environment Minister
Ozawa. Fujii and Naoshima stayed behind.
17:40 Met Hirano at Hatoyama's home. Joined by Matsuno.
19:23 Left Haneda Airport by government plane for the U.S. with his
wife to attend the UN General Assembly and other meetings.

4) FM Okada tells U.S. Assistant Secretary of State: Secret nuclear
deal investigation to have "no impact" on U.S.

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
September 19, 2009

Makoto Igarashi

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Kurt Campbell at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 18 and
told him that investigation had started on the secret agreement
between the two governments on bringing nuclear arms into Japan. He
explained that, "I do not think that this will have any negative
impact on the U.S." and sought the U.S. side's understanding.
Campbell responded that, "This will not affect Japan-U.S. relations
from now on," indicating that he did not see this as a problem.

Campbell said at a news conference held after the meeting: "I made
it clear that we will also cooperate in resolving these issues." He
also stated that: "I am aware that this is a hot topic in Japan, but
documents have been made public (in the U.S.) before. I think the
history has been clarified." He thus indicated that the facts
relating to the secret agreement have all been made public. He gave
more emphasis to expectations on Japan regarding discussions about
(the United States') provision of defense for Japan, including the
nuclear umbrella, and in relation to making progress in Japan's
contribution to the realization of President Obama's goal of a
"world without nuclear weapons" and other areas.

Regarding the possibility of President Obama visiting Hiroshima
during his trip to Japan in mid-November, Campbell said that "there
is no such plan at this point."

5) Gist of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Campbell's interview

ASAHI (Page 3) (Full)
September 19, 2009

Yoichi Kato, editorial staff member

Following is the gist of the interview given to Asahi Shimbun on
September 18 by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who
is visiting Japan.

U.S. view of the Hatoyama administration

Mistaken information on the U.S. view of the Hatoyama administration
is being circulated. First, the U.S. also welcomes an "equal"
partnership. It is also wrong to think that the U.S. does not
support Japan's independent foreign policy. Nothing can be farther
from the truth than the idea that the U.S. opposes stronger

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relations between Japan and South Korea and China.

Japan and the U.S. are facing many problems, including Afghanistan,
global warming, North Korea, and economic stagnation. I hope the new
administration understands that the U.S. wants to build as close a
relationship as possible.

Futenma relocation

The U.S. government strongly desires that what has been agreed with
the Japanese government will continue to be implemented. However, if
we give orders and impose our conclusions on Japan at the initial
stage (of building the bilateral relationship), we will damage the
"equal and strong partnership" that we are trying to build. We
understand that the new administration in Japan wants to talk about
(this issue). It is our duty as a partner to meet this demand. I
have come for that purpose.

Refueling mission in the Indian Ocean

We are facing a critical stage (in Afghanistan and Pakistan) right
now. We will welcome in particular any form of assistance from Japan
in the future.

Global warming prevention

I think (Prime Minister Hatoyama's proposal on the mid-term target
of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from the 1990
level) is a bold, creative, and resolute proposal. We welcome this
on a global level. However, what will happen to this proposal
ultimately in the negotiations (for an international framework) is a
different matter.

6) Secret nuclear deal originated from different interpretations of
"prior consultation system"; U.S. understanding was that
consultation was not required for port calls and passage

ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged)
September 21, 2009

Masaru Honda

Testimonies by informed sources have revealed what brought about the
"secret nuclear agreement" that allowed U.S. ships and aircraft
carrying nuclear weapons to call on Japanese ports and pass through
Japanese waters. Under the "prior consultation system" that started
after the revision of the bilateral security treaty in 1960, at
first, it was Japan's understanding that port calls and passage
through Japanese waters also required consultation, but the United
States' interpretation was that consultation was not required.
Later, the Japanese government secretly conformed to the U.S.
interpretation and tacitly allowed port calls and passage. The
principle of not introducing nuclear arms, one of the three
non-nuclear principles (of 1967), had been meaningless from the
beginning.

Even after the Japanese government confirmed the change of
interpretation with the U.S. side, it continued to repeat the same
old line in the Diet, fully aware that this was not the truth.
Later, there were several instances where proposals emerged in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to openly allow port calls and
passage of ships carrying nuclear arms, but each time, the proposals

TOKYO 00002199 006 OF 011

were killed because "this might cause the collapse of the cabinet."

Six former senior MOFA officials who were in a position to be
involved with the secret nuclear agreement gave their testimonies to
Asahi Shimbun on how the secret agreement came about. A number of
these former officials said that they had briefed incumbent MOFA
officials in detail this summer.

According to their testimonies, the "secret nuclear agreement" came
about in the following manner: (1) the Japanese side resolved the
"difference in interpretation" by conforming to the U.S.
interpretation; (2) therefore, port calls and passage by ships
carrying nuclear arms continued; and (3) the Japanese government
continued to hide this fact from the people.

7) Foreign Minister Okada arrives in U.S.

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
September 22, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada arrived in New York at noon on Sept.
21 (early in the morning on Sept. 22, Japan time) via a Japan
Airlines flight from Narita Airport. He will attend the Group of
Eight (G-8) foreign ministerial meeting. He is scheduled to meet
with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the afternoon of
Sept. 21. He will return to Japan on the 26th.

8) Prime Minister Hatoyama to meet for first time with top leaders
of U.S., Russia, China and South Korea

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
September 22, 2009

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama left yesterday evening for New York
from Haneda Airport via a government plane. This U.S. visit is his
first diplomatic event as prime minister. He will attend the United
Nations General Assembly and the G20 financial summit. He will meet
with U.S. President Barack Obama on Sept. 23, just a week after
taking office. He intends to place priority on building a personal
relationship of trust with Obama and express his intention to place
importance on the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Hatoyama is scheduled to stay in the United Stated for six days.
Prior to his departure, he told the press corps at the Prime
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei), "I just want to be myself
and try not to be too tense." Asked by reporters about his first
meeting with Obama, Hatoyama indicated his intention to make an
effort to build a relationship of trust with Obama. He said, "At
first I want to build a relationship with him in which I make
efforts to understand the personality of the President and he makes
efforts to understand my personality, as well. I will deal with
pending issues while building a relationship of trust between us."

Hatoyama, who has advocated the need for "a close and equal
Japan-U.S. relationship," has said that his administration will
suspend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean next year, as
well as review the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. However, he
has no intention to delve into the specifics of these issues during
the planned Japan-U.S. summit. It is believed that Obama will not
take up specific issues at his first meeting with Hatoyama.

9) Prime Minister Hatoyama departs for U.S.

TOKYO 00002199 007 OF 011

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)
September 22, 2009

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama left Haneda Airport on a government
plane yesterday for the United Stated to attend the United Nations
General Assembly and the G-20 summit (Pittsburgh Summit). He intends
to tell U.S. President Barack Obama in their first meeting that he
will make an effort to build a future-oriented Japan-U.S. alliance.
He also plans to build a relationship of trust with the leaders of
other countries and he will then play up Japan's anti-global warming
efforts, nuclear nonproliferation, and nuclear disarmament.

Hatoyama told reporters yesterday at the Prime Minister's Official
Residence (Kantei), "What is the most important for me as the
Japanese prime minister is to obtain trust from other countries."
Referring to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and the
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces of Agreement (SOFA), he said:

"I have no intention to change my view although the issues have to
be resolved in the future as a matter of course. I will draw
conclusions in our relationship of trust."

10) Prime minister to map out alternative aid plan for Afghanistan
by November

ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
September 21, 2009

As an alternative measure in the event of Japan ending the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama has decided to map out basic guidelines for
supporting Afghanistan, based on private-sector assistance, by the
time when U.S. President Obama visits Japan for the first time in
mid-November. The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and
the Foreign Ministry have started looking into an alternative plan.

The prime minister will leave for the U.S. on the 21st to deliver a
speech at the UN General Assembly and attend the G-20 (financial
summit). He is slated to hold his first meeting with Obama on the
23rd. The likelihood is that he will give top priority to building a
relationship of trust with the President. Individual pending issues
will unlikely be taken up. However, the prime minister has judged
that Japan would need to present its policy on Afghan assistance at
the second summit to be held in November.

11) US government is "ready to hold talks" on review of realignment
of U.S. bases in Japan

SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts)
September 22, 2009

The Japanese government has been unofficially informed by the U.S.
government that it is "ready to hold talks if there is a formal
proposal from the Japanese side" on a review of the realignment of
U.S. bases in Japan, including the planned relocation of the U.S.
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, it
was learned on Sept. 21. The U.S. government has asked Japan to
adhere to what had been agreed upon between the two countries on the
realignment of U.S. bases in Japan, but the Hatoyama administration
has come up with a policy to review the U.S. force realignment plan.
Given the situation, Washington apparently decided that it would be

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advisable to rebuild Japan-U.S. relations in compliance with the
wishes of the new Japanese administration.

According to a source close to Japan-U.S. relations, Tokyo learned
of the U.S. government's intention from Assistant Secretary of State
Kurt Campbell and others who were visiting Japan on Sept. 17-19.
During his stay in Japan, Campbell held talks with Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada, Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka,
and others.

During the series of talks, Campbell said: "The United States and
Japan are allies. We can discuss anything. The issue of U.S. force
realignment is no exception.... We are aware that the new Japanese
government wants to hold talks on what was agreed upon between the
two countries in the past. It is important for us to listen to the
views of the new administration." Furthermore, Campbell reportedly
expressed his intention to respond to a call for talks if Japan
makes a formal proposal, saying, "If there is a proposal from Japan,
the United States has an obligation as an ally to come to the
negotiating table."

12) Okada rules out dispatch of troops to Afghanistan

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
September 21, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, appearing on a TV Asahi program
aired yesterday, indicated that it would be difficult to send the
Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan when asked about the option of
conducting humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in that
country as an alternative to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. "The security situation is
quite difficult there," Okada said. "Other countries are also
exploring ways to withdraw (their troops)," he also said. "As it
stands," he added, "it's unlikely that we will suddenly send out the
SDF since they would be beginners."

Meanwhile, Okada also indicated a cautious view about the idea of
expanding civilian assistance. "We can only send civilians to secure
places," Okada said, adding, "Money may become our main
contribution."

13) U.S. asks Japan to come up with alternative plan for Afghan aid
before Obama's Japan visit in November if it is to terminate
refueling mission

YOMIURI (Top play) (Lead paragraph)
September 19, 2009

The U.S. government has asked Japan to come up with a new form of
support for Afghanistan replacing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean before President Barack
Obama's visit to Japan planned for mid-November if the Hatoyama
administration formally decides to terminate the refueling mission,
a Japan-U.S. relations source revealed on Sept. 18.

14) National Public Safety Commission chief Nakai stresses need to
continue pressuring North Korea to resolve abduction issue

SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
September 21, 2009

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In an interview with the Sankei Shimbun, Hiroshi Nakai, National
Public Safety Commission chairman and state minister for abduction
issue, said "I will start with strengthening pressure" on North
Korea in an effort to resolve the issue of its past abductions of
Japanese nationals. Nakai also said he had advised Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama just before Hatoyama left for the U.S. to "tell U.S.
President Barack Obama during their meeting that Japan will not move
toward normalizing relations with North Korea before the abduction
issue is resolved."

Regarding the approach Japan should take to settle the abduction
issue, Nakai declared: "Japan will ratchet up pressure (against
North Korea). There is no other means but this approach." He further
indicated that he would continue to convey Japan's clear stance
toward the international community, remarking: "It is necessary for
Japan to continue to assert to the international community, mainly
to the U.S. and South Korea, that Japan will not agree to any
requests as long as the abduction issue is left unresolved."

Nakai also said: "If he delivers a speech (at the UN General
Assembly) in New York, Prime Minister Hatoyama should at least say,
'Suppose Americans were being abducted by agents from Cuba every
year. That is what the abduction issue is like. How can we just
leave the issue unresolved?" He indicated that Hatoyama should
stress the inhumanity of abductions to the world in his UN speech.

15) Hatoyama ready to declare 25 PERCENT cut in greenhouse gas
emissions in UN speech

YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
September 21, 2009

During the first meeting of the ministerial committee on global
warming at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday, the government
decided on the content of the speech Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
will deliver in the upcoming UN summit on climate change in New York
on Sept. 22. Hatoyama will declare Japan's goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 25 PERCENT from 1990 levels by 2020. He
will also propose a new initiative to provide developing countries
with Japan's energy-conservation technology and funds in a proactive
manner.

The Aso government announced in June the target of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 15 PERCENT from 2005 levels, or by 8
PERCENT from 1990 levels. By coming up with a larger reduction
amount than the goal of the previous government and positive support
measures for developing countries, the new Japanese government aims
to take the initiative in negotiations for creating an international
framework for cutting greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto
Protocol expires in 2013.

Participating in the ministerial meeting held last night were eight
ministers, including the prime minister, State Minister for National
Strategy Bureau Naoto Kan, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, and
Environment Minister Ozawa. The participants agreed that the prime
minister should send a powerful message to the international
community. In the meeting, Hatoyama said, "The most important thing
is that all countries around the world work together (on measures to
fight global warming)."

Hatoyama expressed his intention to try to achieve a 25 PERCENT
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions even before coming into office

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as prime minister. By declaring it at an international conference,
he intends to make it an international pledge. To avoid a situation
in which Japan alone is obligated to achieve this outstanding
target, Hatoyama will also say in his speech that the 25 PERCENT
target is based on the premise that all the major emitters of
greenhouse gases, including the U.S. and China, will participate in
efforts to attain the target. He is also planning to reiterate the
need to build an international framework that is fair and
effective.

16) Local suffrage for permanent foreign residents: Ozawa refers to
possible submission of bill to regular Diet session; Some party
members against plan

SANKEI (Top play) (Lead para.)
September 20, 2009

It has been learned that Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary
General Ichiro Ozawa on Sept. 19 met with Lee Sang Tuk, a South
Korean lawmaker of the Grand National Party, who is the president of
the South Korea-Japan parliamentarian league and the elder brother
of South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, and told him that
"something must be done" about the question of whether foreign
nationals with permanent resident status in Japan should be vested
with the right to vote in local elections. "I want to set a
direction on the matter in the regular Diet session," a DPJ source
quoted Ozawa as saying. Ozawa appeared to have indicated his
intention to aim to submit a bill to the regular Diet session to be
convened in January next year. Prime Minister Hatoyama is also known
as being eager to promote the idea. However, since many DPJ members
are opposing the idea, the DPJ will likely face difficulties in
unifying views among its lawmakers. As some have pointed out that
this issue could infringe on the Constitution, it could become a
major bone of contention in the run-up to the Upper House election
next summer.

17) Poll: Hatoyama cabinet gets 68.7 PERCENT support

SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged)
September 19, 2009

The initial public approval rating for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
and his cabinet reached 68.7 PERCENT in a joint public opinion
survey conducted by the Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN)
on Sept. 16-17. The figure is way above the 44.6 PERCENT rating the
Aso cabinet got for it upon its inauguration. The Hatoyama cabinet
made its debut with the third highest inaugural popularity rating
among its 11 predecessors since Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's
cabinet that came into office in 1993 as a non-Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) coalition government.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties as well,
the now-ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) scored 44.4 PERCENT ,
topping 40 PERCENT for the first time. The LDP was at 18.8 PERCENT
. The support rate for the DPJ is more than twice as high as that
for the LDP.

18) Poll: DPJ propped up by popularity with women

SANKEI (Page 2 (Abridged)
September 19, 2009

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Upon its debut, the Hatoyama cabinet's public approval rating neared
70 PERCENT . The rate of public support for the Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) appears to reflect the high popularity of Prime Minister
Hatoyama and his cabinet. In the meantime, the DPJ's support rate
also hit an all-time high for it. The DPJ seems to have a 'pole
position' toward next summer's election for the House of
Councillors. "I'm very grateful," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi
Hirano told a press conference yesterday. "But," Hirano also said,
"the question you may have would be whether the Hatoyama cabinet is
really going to do politics for the people's sake." He added: "Each
and every one of the cabinet ministers must bear this in mind. In a
sense, this figure makes me feel a very heavy responsibility."

The DPJ has now expanded its strength in the Diet. This seems to be
ascribable in part to the expansion of support for the DPJ among
women.

In a survey conducted in September last year, the DPJ's popularity
rating was 31.6 PERCENT among male respondents and 20.5 PERCENT
among female respondents. As seen from these figures, there was a
wide gender gap. This time around, the DPJ's popularity rating was
46.8 PERCENT among male respondents and 42.2 PERCENT among female
respondents. The rate of public support for the DPJ among men is
higher than that among women. Even so, the gender gap has narrowed.

ROOS

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